GIRL power has come to the fore after a female Greens candidate at the coming Mildura council election had a campaign sign damaged in an alleged “ram-raid” attack.
Katie Clements said the Greens were “not everyone’s cup of tea – but this was a female face on a corflute, and it was knocked down”.
“This appears to be another case of misogyny against a female candidate, but it’s only served to strengthen my resolve in fighting for greater representation of women on the next council,” the Red Cliffs Secondary College teacher said
Ms Clements’ team has reported the incident – which occurred on Benetook Avenue last Thursday afternoon – to police and the Victorian Electoral Commission.
“It looks like a deliberate act because the property’s owner, who I had received permission to put the corflute on, had attached the sign to a frame, which was welded to a plate of steel to hold it up,” Ms Clements said. “The property owner has reported that he saw a 4WD speed off after ramming the corflute.
“The other reason I don’t think it was an accident was because the car veered on to the wrong side of the road, hit my sign front-on and missed other signs close by.
“A physical attack on anyone’s election material, regardless of gender, is not acceptable. Women shouldn’t be intimidated into not running for council, because a fair share of women on council needs to be norm, not the exception.”
The incident comes after Racheal Fyfe withdrew from the election race in late August after she allegedly received online threats.
Ms Clements was supported by the other female candidates after the Sunraysia Daily told them what had occurred to her.
“This could be an extension of what we saw happen to Racheal,” fellow candidate Jodi Reynolds said. “It’s not right. The council needs the diversity that women bring to any leadership group. It leads to better outcomes and a better bottom line.”
Helen Healy and Julie Waters, who are also in the race, said it was time for women to have a greater presence on the next council.
“We only had two of the nine seats on the last council – and I’d really hope all five of us are fortunate enough to be elected (after postal voting closes on October 23),” said Ms Healy, who replaced Ali Cupper on the previous council about two years ago.
“We had a historic high of four women on the 2012 council, and all five of the ladies running this time are well qualified and passionate enough to serve the new council well.”
Ms Waters said she was “very disappointed” Ms Clements’ campaign material had been damaged.
“I drive along Benetook Avenue most days and I noticed yesterday that her sign on that property had gone, after being there for a month or so,” she said.
“I don’t know whether the female candidates are a threat to the boys’ club, but we are just as knowledgeable – if not more – as men in knowing how to run things, because we’re so accustomed to multi-tasking and managing households.”
The fifth female candidate, Cindi Power, condemned the attack on Ms Clements’ sign.
“It reeks of arrogance and it’s so unnecessary,” Ms Power said. “You can disagree with people’s ideas and opinions, but don’t commit any acts like this against them.
“This sort of thing makes me feel vulnerable as a female candidate.”
